Posts Tagged ‘free knitting patterns’

Don’t laugh, there were no other heads around and I wanted to show it to you on someone! More photos below :0

Unlike you, I am not very fond of knitting a gauge swatch so … after I spun up some of the fleece I got out yesterday … I decided that I would knit a hat to determine my gauge. I really, quite like it. Great fit and not likely to give me “flat head” and definitely very warm. The textured look from the slubs in the handspun give it a wonderful personality. The simple designs helps to showcase the “hand spun-ness” of the yarn.

Finished Measurements: 21 inches around. 9.5 inches high with brim rolled up.
For a hat that fits (no slouch) make body 1″ shorter for total length of 8.5″

Brim:

Cast on 94 sts. Place marker, join. (you know the routine, be carefull not to twist)
knit around for 4-6 rows for the st st rolled brim.
work 4 rows of K1, P1 ribbing for a better fit.

Body:

Work in rounds with stocking stitch (knitting every row) until you have 7″ (or desired length) from the bottom with the brim rolled up just as you would be wearing it.
**For a hat that fits, at the top, with no slouch at all just do 6 ” here.

My guys like a light weight but warm hat, one they can scrunch up and stick in their pocket but when they put it on it needs to keep them warm! The folded over “cuff” should not be too deep and when it’s folder over the hat sits just over the tip of the ears but when it’s pulled down against the cold it goes right over those ears completely. I might call a hat with this kind of fit a skull cap or beanie.

This little watch cap fits the bill perfectly. Having knit and ripped quite a few times before I got it right I can now present you with a pattern for a cap that’s super warm, “stuffs” nicely into your pocket and fits just right. I will make this pattern as a download, all pretty in a pdf with my lovely template and graphics soon but for now, so I don’t forget how I did it, I will write it out here. This one’s for Dan.

I used LUX by Buffalo Gold Premium Fibers (45% American Bison Down, 20% Cashmere, 20% Silk and 15% Tencel) and it was an excellent choice. I used it doubled to make it a fingering weight yarn but you can use any fingering weight as a single strand. A sock yarn would be perfect as long as you aren’t knitting for a sensitive bald head. The lux would be perfect for such a person as this 🙂 as would many of my exotic luxury fiber hand spun yarns in fingering weight. If ordering from the handspun please let me know you are making the “Perfect Reversible Watch Cap” so I can spin it just right for this project.

approximately 200 – 250 yards of fingering weight yarn. If using the LUX, as I have done, you will need 2 of the 40 gram skeins of 330 yarns each. The finished hat in size small weighs about 45 grams so you cannot get one out of a single skein.
a 2.5mm circular knitting needle and a set of 4 or 5 in size 2.5 mm

Instructions:
With single strand of fingering or double strand of lace yarn (Lux) and the circular needles cast on 156 stitches.
Join in a circle and work around in K1, P1 rib until piece measures 6.5 (7, 7.5) inches.

Shape Crown:
Row 1: Work 11, *Double Decrease (slip next 2 stitches together knitwise, knit the third stitch, pass the 2 slipped stitches over) Work 23. Repeat from * around ending with work 12.
12 stitches decreased over 6 miters. (144 sts)
This makes the nice mitre that looks good on both sides.

Row 2 and all even rows: Work even knitting the knits and purling the purls. (trust me, even when you knit 3 in a row it will resolve itself after the next decrease row)
Row 3: Work 10, *Double Decrease over next 3 sts, work 21. Repeat from * around ending with work 11. (132 sts)
Row 5: Work 9, *Double Decrease over next 3 sts, work 19. Repeat from * around ending with work 10. (120 sts).

Continue in this manner, decreasing 12 stitches every other round until there are only 12 sts remaining. Break yarn and thread through the remaining sts. Pull tight, secure and weave in your ends.

For a limited time I am offering one of my original design patterns “Top Down Baby Jacket” as a free download pdf on Ravelry or Craftsy.
I think you may have to be a member for the Ravelry one but you really should sign up, its the very best knitting site ever.

I’ve decided to write up some of my designs and have developed a whole new appreciation for the designers, especial those who self-publish. This is difficult work and requires some serious concentration and math skills as well as the ability to multi task on a whole new level.

My first attempt will be the lovely Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan. It is so simple and fun to knit. The construction is top-down and there is so little shaping and NO sewing together. just put on the button and sew in the ends.

What will make my designs stand out? I want them to be elegant simplicity, classic and timeless, easy and straightforward to knit with lots of illustrations so that beginners can follow along without difficulty.

I want the pattern to be pretty and, of course, accurate and reasonably priced. I want to provide all the support needed via email at any time and I would love to see my customers go out and sell the things they make from my designs. I would so love to hear that they enjoyed knitting them.

This pattern will introduce my Favorite Stretchy Cast Off

1) Knit 1
2)Knit 1 (2 sts on right needle)
3) slip both sts back to the left needle then
4) knit them together through back of the loops.
Repeat steps 2-4 to end.
Once you get used to this you can combine steps 3 & 4 into one movement.